Aquira DeCosta has a knack for making things look easy -- layups, rebounds, steals, you name it. But her latest feat caught her coaches, classmates, onlookers, pretty much everybody, off guard.
After undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus in her right knee on Jan. 21, DeCosta was back on the court -- playing on the court, mind you -- on Feb. 23. That's 33 days, if you're counting.
"I think everybody was shocked," said DeCosta, the No. 6 player in the espnW HoopGurlz Super 60 for the 2018 class. "They were asking if I was even hurt in the first place. That's how shocked they were."
DeCosta, in her return for St. Mary's (Stockton, California), scored 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting in the Rams' 87-75 playoff win over Davis (California). Not bad for someone who most thought wouldn't play again during her junior year. She's not quite 100 percent, either -- more like 85 or 90 percent.
Her diagnosis was a "bucket handle tear," which brings a quicker recovery time than a full repair. But still, DeCosta's speedy turnaround is a shot in the arm for the Rams, who are seeking to defend their CIF Sac-Joaquin Division I title. They took another step Tuesday night with a 78-34 win over Lincoln (Stockton, California). DeCosta had 12 points.
"She's really tough," St. Mary's coach Tom Gonsalves said. "She can handle pain a lot. We don't know what she's going through sometimes."
DeCosta said Rams guard Naje Murray was on her mind during the brief time she was away from basketball. Murray, a San Diego State signee, suffered an ACL injury in July that left her status uncertain for her senior season.
Murray returned in mid-February, much to the delight of Gonsalves.
"I came back as fast as I could for her because it's her last season," DeCosta said. "I think we're in a better spot for playoffs now."
No kidding. DeCosta averaged a double-double this year -- 19.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.
DeCosta admits her right knee still has its "funny moments," but she's getting better by the day. She didn't rely much on pain medication during rehabilitation, pushing away crutches two days after surgery.
Those who figured she wouldn't suit up for St. Mary's simply motivated her through the mending process. She was cleared on Feb. 17.
"She's so glad to be back," her dad, Randy DeCosta, said. "That's her thing. She likes to play ball. ... Aquira didn't want to let her team down. She's that kind of player."
No doubt her prompt return caught the eye of college coaches as well. She trimmed her choices to Oklahoma, Baylor, Louisville, Tennessee, Washington and UCLA in November but won't pick a school before visiting, Randy said. South Carolina also has entered the picture.
She recently received an invitation from USA Basketball to try out for the U18 3x3 team in April. If selected, she will compete in Chengdu, China, this summer.
But college and summer basketball aside, DeCosta's return will boost St. Mary's (19-8), which hasn't been at full strength all season.
The Rams finished No. 2 in last year's espnW 25 Power rankings and have played some of the country's best teams this year.
And with DeCosta back in the lineup, St. Mary's still has a shot at making some major noise. Next up is McClatchy (Sacramento, California) for a sectional title.
"We need her to go on," Gonsalves said. "If we didn't have her, we might have been done. She's special, obviously. You can't replace someone like that."